Not legal advice. This is a free reference compiled from official government sources. Laws change and local details matter. Confirm every deadline with the official source or a licensed attorney before you rely on it.
Last verified: · Confidence: medium
Colorado landlord deadlines
Statewide rules for Colorado. Cities and counties can add their own rules. Statutes and agency pages: leg.colorado.gov.
Return the deposit, or a written statement of the reasons for keeping it, within 30 days (lease may allow up to 60) Verified
Deadline: Within 30 days after move-out (60 days for a written lease that allows longer (maximum))
Within 30 days after the lease ends or the tenant surrenders the premises (up to 60 days only if the written lease says so), return the deposit or send a written statement of the exact reasons for keeping any part of it. No deductions for normal wear and tear.
Who it covers: Since January 1, 2026 (HB25-1249). The deadline runs from the end of the lease or the surrender and acceptance of the premises, whichever is later. A written lease may extend it, but not beyond 60 days. Wrongful withholding can cost three times the amount withheld.
"Thirty days after the lease ends or the tenant returns the property to the landlord, the landlord must return the security deposit to the tenant or mail the tenant a written statement of the exact reasons why the landlord is keeping part or all of the deposit." lawhelp.colorado.gov
"A written lease may extend the time for the landlord to return the deposit up to 60 days." lawhelp.colorado.gov
"the new law clarifies that the default timing to return a security deposit is thirty days, rather than using the language “one month.” The law continues to provide for an exception, allowing for a longer period of time, which shall not exceed sixty days." dre.colorado.gov
"The effective date of the new law is January 1, 2026, and applies to conduct occurring on or after that applicable date." dre.colorado.gov
Notes: C.R.S. § 38-12-103 as amended by HB25-1249 (effective January 1, 2026); Colorado Judicial Branch self-help page and Division of Real Estate summary.
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: high · Status: verified · Report a correction
Give the tenant a signed copy of the lease within 7 days of signing; notify tenants within 1 business day if the landlord or agent changes Verified
Deadline: Within 7 days after the lease starts
Provide the tenant a signed copy of the rental agreement (electronic unless the tenant asks for paper) within seven days after the tenant signs. The lease must name the landlord or agent and address; if that changes, notify tenants or post the new identity within one business day.
"Landlords are required to provide the tenant a signed copy of the rental agreement within seven days of the tenant signing the agreement." content.leg.colorado.gov
"the new landlord or authorized agent must provide each tenant a written or electronic notice or post the identity of the new landlord in a noticeable location on the residential premises within one business day of the change." content.leg.colorado.gov
Notes: C.R.S. § 38-12-801 et seq. as summarized by Legislative Council Staff. Source is a nonpartisan Legislative Council Staff memo (September 2024) summarizing the statutes, not the statute text (C.R.S. Title 38 is not available as an official .gov page we could save); confirm current law. The calendar date uses the lease start because the signing date is not entered. Dated 7 days after the lease start date as an approximation: the statute counts from the day the tenant signs.
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: medium · Status: verified · Report a correction
Rent increase: 60 days' written notice where there is no written lease; no more than one increase in any 12 months Verified
Deadline: At least 60 days before the rent increase takes effect
If there is no written lease, give at least 60 days' notice before raising the rent. For any tenancy, written or not, the rent may be increased only once in any 12 consecutive months the tenant occupies the unit.
Who it covers: With a written lease, the lease terms govern notice, but the once-per-12-months limit applies to all tenancies.
"Where no written lease exists, landlords must provide at least 60-days notice to tenants before increasing rent." content.leg.colorado.gov
"increase rent more than one-time in any twelve consecutive month period occupied by the tenant." content.leg.colorado.gov
Notes: C.R.S. § 38-12-701 as summarized by Legislative Council Staff. Source is a nonpartisan Legislative Council Staff memo (September 2024) summarizing the statutes, not the statute text (C.R.S. Title 38 is not available as an official .gov page we could save); confirm current law.
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: medium · Status: verified · Report a correction
Notice to terminate a tenancy: 91, 28, 21, 3 or 1 days depending on the length of the tenancy Verified
Deadline: At least 91 days before the lease ends (91 days for lease term 1 year or more; 28 days for lease term 6 months to under 1 year; 21 days for lease term 1 to under 6 months; 3 days for lease term 1 week to under 1 month, or at will; 1 days for lease term under 1 week)
To end a periodic tenancy, serve the notice before the tenancy ends: 91 days for tenancies of a year or more, 28 days for 6 months to under a year, 21 days for 1 to under 6 months, 3 days for 1 week to under a month or at will, and 1 day for less than a week.
Who it covers: Colorado now requires cause to evict most tenants (C.R.S. § 38-12-1303, 2024). No notice is needed when a fixed-term lease ends on a date both parties agreed to.
"No written notice to terminate tenancy is required when there is a fixed-term tenancy where both parties agree that the lease will end at a certain time." content.leg.colorado.gov
"A landlord cannot evict a tenant unless the landlord has cause for eviction." content.leg.colorado.gov
Notes: C.R.S. § 13-40-107 as summarized by Legislative Council Staff. Source is a nonpartisan Legislative Council Staff memo (September 2024) summarizing the statutes, not the statute text (C.R.S. Title 38 is not available as an official .gov page we could save); confirm current law.
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: medium · Status: verified · Report a correction
24 hours' notice before entering to repair a habitability condition Verified
Deadline: At least 24 hours before entering to repair a habitability condition (not required for an imminent threat)
When responding to a habitability complaint, tell the tenant you will give at least 24 hours' notice before entering to make repairs, unless the condition substantially and imminently threatens life, health or safety.
Who it covers: Colorado has no general statewide entry-notice statute; this 24-hour notice applies to entry for habitability repairs. Not required if the condition substantially and imminently threatens life, health or safety. Check the lease for other entry terms.
"including providing a comparable rental and at least 24 hours-notice if the landlord needs to access the rental to repair the condition." content.leg.colorado.gov
"The 24-hours-notice to enter the rental is not required if the condition substantially and imminently threatens the tenant’s life, health, or safety." content.leg.colorado.gov
Notes: C.R.S. § 38-12-503(6)(a)(III) as summarized by Legislative Council Staff. Source is a nonpartisan Legislative Council Staff memo (September 2024) summarizing the statutes, not the statute text (C.R.S. Title 38 is not available as an official .gov page we could save); confirm current law.
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: medium · Status: verified · Report a correction
Warranty of habitability: respond and start fixing within 24 hours of notice of an uninhabitable condition Verified
Deadline: Within 24 hours after notice of a condition that makes the unit uninhabitable or threatens life, health or safety (72 hours in an environmental public health event)
Every rental carries a warranty of habitability. Once you have notice of a condition that makes the unit uninhabitable or threatens life, health or safety, respond to the tenant and begin remedial action within 24 hours, telling the tenant when repairs will start and finish.
Who it covers: 72 hours in an environmental public health event. A comparable unit or hotel room must be provided within 24 hours of a tenant's request when a condition materially interferes with life, health or safety.
"By making a rental agreement the landlord guarantees that the rental is habitable and will stay habitable while the tenant lawfully occupies the rental." content.leg.colorado.gov
"the landlord must respond to the tenant and start to take action to address the condition within 24 hours." content.leg.colorado.gov
"In the case of an environmental public health event, the landlord’s timeline to respond and start to address the condition increases to 72 hours." content.leg.colorado.gov
Notes: C.R.S. §§ 38-12-503 and 38-12-505 as summarized by Legislative Council Staff. Source is a nonpartisan Legislative Council Staff memo (September 2024) summarizing the statutes, not the statute text (C.R.S. Title 38 is not available as an official .gov page we could save); confirm current law.
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: medium · Status: verified · Report a correction